In a world where magic is used for everything, from cooking and cleaning to fighting and defeating monsters. There was the birth of a child from one of the poorest families, who was either a blessing or a curse to humanity.
16/02/2008
As the agonising cries filled the small room, the midwife's soothing voice cut through the tension, urging the mother to push on. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead as she clenched her fists, summoning every ounce of strength within her.
"Oh, Thomas..." the mother gasped, her voice strained with effort. "I can't... I can't do this anymore."
"You're doing great, my love," came the reassuring voice of her husband, his hand tightly gripping hers. "Just a little more, we're almost there."
In the flickering candlelight, the midwife's experienced hands moved with precision, guiding the baby's emergence into the world. With each push, the mother's breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling with exertion.
And then, finally, after what felt like an eternity, the moment arrived. With a final, gut-wrenching push, the baby's head emerged, slick with the fluids of birth.
"Oh, Thomas..." the mother panted, tear's of exhaustion and anticipation mingling on her cheeks. "I can see... I can see our baby."
The midwife's hands moved swiftly, ensuring the safe delivery of the child as the mother collapsed back against the pillows, her body spent from the effort.
As the cries of the newborn filled the room, a sense of relief washed over the exhausted mother. Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks as she reached out to cradle her precious bundle in her arms, marveling at the miracle of new life.
"Thomas," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Our baby... Our beautiful baby."
In that moment, as mother and child shared their first tender embrace, the world seemed to stand still. The trials of childbirth were forgotten, replaced by the overwhelming love and wonder that filled the room.
And as the midwife gently wrapped the newborn in a soft blanket, she whispered words of praise and encouragement to the mother. "Your child is here, Ma'am... You have done a great job," she said, her voice filled with warmth and admiration.
With tears of gratitude in her eyes, the mother gazed down at her newborn son, knowing that her life would never be the same. In that tiny, fragile form, she saw the promise of a future filled with hope and possibility. And as she held her precious baby close, she knew that the journey ahead would be filled with challenges, but also with boundless love and joy.
10 Years Later~
"Alex, are you ready to get your skill's at the shrine?", my mother said to me, for the hundredth time.
"Mom, I really do not want to go, I am literally the weakest kid in the entire school, I got beaten up by a third grader mom."
" That is okay Alex, God will support you and make you supper strong " Said my mother, while trying to control her laughter.
"Ok fine, but don't expect anything", I said.
After an exhausting walk to the shrine which was located at the outskirts of the village, thought it felt like it was located at the outskirts of the world.
We saw two giant vermilion coloured gates which marked the transition from the secular world to the sacred space of the shrine. It had a notice hanging on one of the giant red coloured knobs. It read "Pay 2 gold coins to the guard to enter".
"TWO GOLD COINS?" I said to my mother, as it was equal to four days worth of food.
My mother ignoring my astonishment regarding the absurd price to enter a shrine, took two gold coins out of her purse, the size of which she had diminished profusely, using her skill.
After we entered the shrine, I saw meticulously landscaped gardens designed to harmonise with nature. While I was admiring the beauty of the shrine, an aura of wisdom seemed to envelop the elderly guardian who greeted us. His weathered face bore the marks of a life spent in service to the divine. His eyes, though aged, held a glimmer of ancient knowledge.
"Welcome," his voice resonated with a soothing timbre, beckoning us deeper into the sacred space.
"Hello Sir, this is my son Alex, he is here to get his skill, he is very excited". Trust me, I wasn't.
"Well, everyone is. Right this way ma'am."
He took us inside one of the building located in the interior of the shrine. When we entered the buildings I initially saw nothing but darkness.
"Flame up" said the old man, the torches rapidly one by one started to give out light due to the fire build up in them.
I noticed two main things, a main altar which was adorned with statues and paintings of Buddha representing the divine beings worshiped at the shrine. We then entered a room which seemed empty and at first, but soon an owl flew right towards the old man and perched on his hand.
After about five minutes, I was told to touch the owl which was looking at me dead in the eyes as if I had been told to eat it alive.
The old man noticed that I was a little hesitant, so he patted my back and said, "Well, go on son. This is the only way to get to know your skill."
"Okay", I said hesitantly.
I then tried to touch it but the owl seemed to have unwitting rage towards me.
"The owls is not letting me touch it", I said to the old man who was staring at me, confused.
"Have you been to a dungeon recently?" asked the old man .
"TO A DUNGEON!?, I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN OUTSIDE MY ROOM."
"Well it has been said in some books that owls don't let those people touch it who have been to a dungeon." Said the old man.
"Wait a minute, I know my son well enough, there is no way he is strong enough to come out of a dungeon alive." Said my mom.
"She is right, I can't even beat a third grader." I said, not realising that it wasn't something to brag about.
"Well that is the only possible explanation in my knowledge". Said the old man
"So what now?" Asked my mother.
"There is nothing we can do until the owl lets your son touch it." Said the old man.
"Can't you like hold it down while I touch it quickly." I said.
" THIS IS A SPIRIT OWL, NOT AN OWL FROM THE JUNGLE!" Said the old man, while unintentionally spitting all over me.
"I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt the Owl.... or you." I said.
"Hmmm, It's okay I guess. Well, try and touch the owl again and see what happens". Said the old man
This time for some reason the owl looked like it gave up and let me touch it for barely a second, but that was supposed to be enough.
"NO SKILL AVAILABLE".
I was more surprised at the fact that the owl spoke English rather than the fact I had no skill. It was quite the contrary for my mother.
"WHAT, IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE, NO SKILL WHATSOEVER ?" Said my mother.
"Well, It is extremely rare but it has been observed, where the God gives no skill to a child."
"BUT ALEX HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG !" Said my mother, worried about my future.
"I am sure he has not mam, but it really isn't up to him." Said the old man "Mam, this is a serious issue, Alex's life could be in danger, if the authorities found out about him."
As we stood in the dimly lit room of the shrine, the weight of uncertainty hung heavy in the air. The old man's words echoed in my mind, his warning about the potential dangers of my lack of skill ringing ominously in my ears.
"Alex," my mother said, her voice trembling with worry. "We need to be careful. If the authorities find out about your... situation, your life could be in danger."
I swallowed hard, the gravity of her words hitting me like a ton of bricks. I hadn't fully grasped the implications of my lack of skill until now, but the thought of facing persecution and discrimination because of it sent a chill down my spine.
"But what can we do, Mom?" I asked, my voice tinged with desperation. "I can't just pretend like nothing's wrong."
My mother's gaze softened, her eyes filled with a mixture of love and concern. "I know, Alex. But we need to be smart about this. We can't let anyone know about your... condition, not until we figure out what to do next."
"And don't worry, Alex," the old man said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "I won't say a word to anyone about what happened here today. Your secret is safe with me."
I felt a wave of relief wash over me, grateful for the old man's reassurance. Despite the uncertainty of our future, at least we had one less thing to worry about.
"Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you for everything."
-
"Did you hear that? Alex has no skill !" -
"I am pretty sure he is the only one with no skill in the entire world !" -
"That dammed old bastard, he actually went and told fucking everyone" Alex muttered to himself.
Alex had been marred by the relentless taunts and jeers of his peers. His days were a blur of humiliation and isolation, as the other children mocked him for his perceived weakness. Despite his best efforts to fit in, Alex found himself cast out, a pariah among his classmates.
Even his closest friend, a boy named Liam, had abandoned him in his time of need. Once inseparable companions, their bond had crumbled under the weight of Alex's newfound status as the village outcast. With each passing day, the loneliness gnawed at Alex's soul, leaving him feeling adrift in a sea of hostility and rejection.
As I stumbled through the doorway of our humble home, tears streaming down my face and my breath coming in ragged gasps, a scene of utter chaos greeted me. My heart lurched in my chest as I saw my mother completely beaten up, covered up with bruises."
"Mom!" I cried out, my voice choked with fear and disbelief. "What's happening? What have they done to you?"
My mother's face was a mask of pain and defiance, her eyes locking with mine in a silent plea for understanding. "Oh Alex..." she gasped, her voice barely a whisper amidst the chaos. "They... they found out about your... your lack of skill, thank the Spirits that you were not here who knows what they would have done to you."
I felt as if the ground had dropped out from beneath me, my world spiralling into chaos as the implications of her words sank in. The officers had come for us, for me, because of my perceived weakness in a world where strength was everything.
"No..." I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of rage and despair. "This can't be happening. They can't do this to you."
But even as I spoke, I knew that we were powerless against the might of the officers, their authority unquestioned in a society ruled by fear and prejudice.
"Alex, no matter what happens, I will always be with you." my mother gasped again, her voice barely audible above the din of the chaos.
I nodded. She then took me to the kitchen, where she turned off all the light's and closed the curtains.
There was complete darkness as there wasn't much sunlight due to the billow of clouds surrounding the Sun. "ALEX, PROMISE ME THAT YOU WILL NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TODAY" Said my mother with an expression I had not seen since my dad was killed. It wasn't fright nor was it anger, it was the expression one has before they are about to die.
"Mom, you are actually scaring me right now." I said with tears rolling down my face.
She then cut her wrist deep enough to form a pool of blood.
"pe-shaach, mun aat-maanum gre-hee-tvaa as-yuh baa-luk-syuh aa-sheer-vaadum kuh-roo, tuh-syuh kim-api haan-um muh kuh-roo". My mom started to repeat this, she repeated it several times before we heard a noise. The noise started off faint, but grew louder with each passing second.